Definition of the word integration

The word "integration" stems from the mathematical concept of mathematical integration, which involves finding the area under a curve on a graph. This mathematics term was originally coined by Gottfried Leibniz in the 17th century as a verb meaning "to make whole" or "to combine" in a mathematical sense. This definition evolved over time, and by the 19th century, the term began to take on a broader meaning, relating not only to mathematical processes but also to social and political contexts. In social sciences, the use of "integration" began to emerge during the Civil Rights Movement as a way to describe the process by which previously segregated or marginalized populations were brought into a larger, mainstream society. The term has since become a part of common usage in various areas, including technology and business, where it typically refers to the process of combining different systems or components into a unified whole.